Mole people

British clocks changed from Summer Time last night and so we begin the descent into wintry darkness...we celebrated by checking out a local pub, "The Mole" at Monk Sherborne.

It's our first attempt at meeting the natives of the next village. We were enthusiastically introduced by some new friends and found all to be friendly. We may make The Mole a regular spot, especially as it houses a very welcoming open fire and a friendly attitude towards accompanied dogs and colonials.
Is there a local Hampshire beer? Can anyone advise us?

*Not the pub sign exactly, but a picture of a mole nonetheless—and from one of the best books ever published!

Settling in

We are slipping into our new life pretty easily, although we haven't, as yet, conquered the infamous Basingstoke roundabouts! (we'd like to know if any foreigner ever has...).
C appears to be still employed after leading the evening service and taking the 'children's spot' last Sunday—this week he attempts to explain Mark 11:12-26 in his first sermon at St. Andrew's, Sherborne St. John.

S is loving the chance to romp through the fields behind our house, the scent (and sight) of hares, pheasants and deer, stirring up something innately Springer and gun dog in him. The pheasant shooting season has just begun, and as exciting as this may seem to him, we must be careful to keep him to the bridleways and footpaths as the sight of another native—the gamekeeper—may not be so pleasant! Sasunnach has been succesful at springing 2 or 3 birds from the ground cover as the very blurry photo suggests...that smudge on the right side IS a cock-pheasant!


We are overwhelmed with thanks at the generosity of God and our new friends at SWP. We arrived at our new home and found 2 huge boxes filled with food and general supplies! This was so thoughtful and useful and really sums up how, as Christians, we are to 'practice hospitality'. Hospitality, in the literal sense, means 'love of strangers' (philo~xenia), and that is what our new friends have done so well, in loving us—strangers. Thank you!



We are doing a fair amount of reading. This will be a considerable component of C's work generally, but especially at the moment as we study Hampshire bus routes, paint colour charts, new electrical appliance instructions, telephone lists, insurance disclosure statements etc. etc. A is trying to get her hands on a copy of Kate Fox's acclaimed book, "Watching the English" (Not available in Oz at the time of leaving, for some reason) in the hope of understanding cultural differences. It might not be a radically different culture, but we have already learned NOT to describe someone as wearing "thongs" unless we want raised eyebrows. They are "flip-flops" here, thongs are worn on a very different area of the body...

First day at the office

Here's a picture of the new boy on his first day at the office (Sunday 16 October). The building's a bit on the old side, but fully functional...

If that was the prologue, this is Chapter 1

It's been a long time since the last post, and we wonder if we have any readership left...but much has happened! We have now successfully pulled the door to on our life in Sydney and arrived (and begun to settle) in England. I am tempted to write a potted history of the past four weeks, but (a) I am too tired after living through it once to live through it again in prose, and (b) I think it would be too boring to read. Instead, please find some photos and some general observations that hope to sum it all up!

Observations for today.
1. Our Teva sandals are sitting, rather incongruously, next to our very thick fleece jackets.
2. Reflecting our new European bias here in England, I wonder if we truly need to know that the Hungarian word for 'cotton' is 'pumut'. Apparently it's important when you buy towels from Ikea as they list this, as well as 17 other translations on their products...
3. Never, ever attempt to shop in Ikea Bristol on a Saturday afternoon unless you need visible evidence of a fallen world.
4. We are so thankful for so many things—for the warm 're-welcome' from our friends at Market Overton church and the very warmest of new welcomes from our new friends at Sherbornes with Pamber, for 99% of all transport and relocation logistics going perfectly smoothly, for the incredible greeting by our great friend Andy who drove 2.5 hours from Hinckley to Heathrow on the "off-chance" of meeting us as we arrived into London (!! We shall NEVER forget this!!...) and for the messages from our friends back in Sydney who are thinking of us.
5. Sasunnach really is a Bird Dog. All history of puppy play aside, his natural instinct has been to spring the pheasants from the field directly behind our new house. You should watch him go!